Thread: making a strop????

Ok I am a total newbie at straight shaving but I have been looking at strops all over the place to see whats out there. I used to do the whole mountain man reinacting bit and I have a lot of leather laying in storage. I was wondering if any of these would make good strops? I have elk, deer, buffalo, cow, and even some goat leather. The buffalo and cow are smooth on one side rough on the other just like most strops. The deer, elk, and goat are rough on both sides due to natural removal of the hair with a scraper. The deer elk and goat where brain tanned by me and the only thing used in the tanning was brain. There have been no chemicals of any type used on them. The buffalo and cow however were purchased so I can not attest to what they were tanned with. I would like to see them used for something so as they are not going to waste. Even if they are not strop material maybe some nice leather razor rolls for storage. Any comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I would try the cow or buffalo. To make a strop on the cheap, you can buy a "D" ring or two from a tack supply store or a Tandy Leather store (or online from them). Then you get some "Chicago screws" or rivet screws, punch the holes for the screws and you're on your way.

Chris L

It's a great idea to make your own strop! Make sure you choose the best possible leather for the strop... I'd say cowhide is the best. Buffalo could be an interesting experience...
You can see my strops here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...y-kitchen.html
Keep us posted. If you decide to make one out of Buffalo leather, I'm sure some of us here would be willing to try them out...

Any of the leathers will work and have probably been used in the past if they are of heavy enough weight to not cup when in use. The Bison or Cow are probably best from that standpoint. I know Cow in particular so I can give a little information there. If it is that nice pleshy pink color like fpessanha's is it is vegatable tanned and suitable for stropmaking. It should also be in roughly the 9 oz. or heavier weight.

If none of the leather you have is thick enogh to use for a hanging strop you could always make a paddle strop with it. This also adds the advantage that you will need less perfect bump free leather as paddle strops are usually much smaller thn hanging strops.

I can think of nothing more unique and man caveish than a homemade strop by you using leather you killed and tanned yourself! Just awesome!!

Are the leather strips from Tandy Leather Factory already tanned? I know next to nothing about leather.

Yes Tandy sells only tanned leather.

I would like to thank you all for your posts I will give it a try and see what I come out with. I believe the cow hide would be my best bet as the bison is belly leather and may be a tad thin for the hanging strop but I might make a paddle strop out of it for when I travel. I love the "MAN CAVE" comment from wildtim. I keep trying to tell my wife that every man needs one so far its not working out for me because I guess she has already claimed the living room. I think I did make a mistake though and let her use my straight to shave with now it looks like I will not be getting a back up instead she will be getting one.LOL Oh well I will have to see if I can convert the whole family.

I go to the Tandy Leather store here in Salt Lake City, they have a big barrel of scrap leather including 3 inch wide tanned but not died cow hide strips. Some I glue onto flat wood for paddle strops, some I hand lace/sew to 3” “dee rings” meant for saddle parts, using some thinner leather to facilitate the fold and transition to the heavy stropping leather. After a little neatsfoot oil they look like a million bucks, and they feel out of this world with the dee rings in your hand. I think they strop well, though I’ve never actually touched much less used “the real thing”. Next project is to spring for some of the fancy engraved dee rings. Designer strops, what is this world coming to ?